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Recreation 

on tbe 
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RECREATION 


O N 


THE 


SLIGO. 



BY 



LOUIS P. SHOEMAKER. 



PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE BOARD OF 
GOVERNORS OF THE TAKOMA CLUB AND LIBRARY. 



August, 1900. 




WASHINGTON, D. C. 

JUDD 4 DETWEILEE, PEINTEBS. 

1900. 

Gift 
Author 
(Person) 

30Ja } 07 



^Foreworb ♦ ♦ ♦ 



}NE op the purposes of our club and 
library is to advance the interests of 
Takoma, Bright wood and vicinity, to make 
known the advantages of this section, and 
to remind home-seekers of its numerous 
attractions. 

Pictures of the varied landscapes will be 
exhibited and papers will be prepared under 
the auspices of and by members of the club 
descriptive of the country. It is with these 
objects in view and for the accomplishment 
of such purpose that I submit this paper 
entitled " Recrea*on on the Sligo," 
which stream is within the corporate limits 
of Takoma and forms a part of its yet un- 
improved section. We regret to realize that 
these natural beauties and rural attractions 
must so soon yield to the improvement of 
Takoma, caused by the development of 
Washington city. The demand of the peo- 
ple for suburban homes clearly illustrates 
the fact that the day for greater density of 
population in the city has passed. Our 
recent census reports show a large increase 
beyond the old city limits. 

The impression will not be made that this 
movement is designed to sell real estate. 
There exists no organized or individual 



effort in this direction. The club is a social, 
literary, and athletic association, with gen- 
eral objects in view and not particular or 
speculative purposes. 

We desire, however, to direct the atten- 
tion of the public, as stated, more particularly 
to Takoma, Brightwood and vicinity — its 
gradually-attained altitude of 350 feet above 
Washington ; its pure water supply ; its 
beautiful and well-kept roadways ; its rapid 
and direct transit facilities, both by electric 
and steam cars ; its summer hotel, which 
attracts from one hundred to one hundred 
and fifty people from Washington each 
season ; its number of attractive houses and 
well-kept grounds, occupied principally by 
those who have purchased and built perma- 
nent homes ; its telegraph, telephone, and 
store facilities ; its social club and library, 
with athletic features Attached, consisting of 
a tennis court and croquet grounds, sup- 
ported by the people at considerable monthly 
expense, thus evidencing their interest in 
home life and their surroundings. It is 
believed that these advantages when made 
known will be appreciated, and that those 
desiring to establish permanent homes, with 
due regard for health and all modern con- 
veniences, will avail themselves of the 
superiority of this section of the District of 
Columbia and Maryland. 



IRecteation 
on tbe Sltgo. 

To BE able to throw aside our 
business cares and responsibilities of 
tbe hour, and even for a short time 
indulge in some prescribed diversion, 
will retain as well as advance our 
physical condition, promote happi- 
ness, strengthen our mental capacity, 
and enlarge upon the education we 
have acquired. It will also develop 
our intuitive and empirical knowledge. 

When involved in business cares 
and responsibilities, and burdened 
with the labor involved therein, we 
realize the advantages to be derived 
and the pleasures afforded by even a 
day off. 

We have started in the early morn- 
ing, experienced delightful drives, 
and it is pleasant to record some of 

5 



our recollections of the beauties of the 
seasons as they were presented, while 
in search of some suitable place of 
destination involving attractive rural 
surroundings and possessing advan- 
tages for quiet repose such as one 
might picture to himself without in- 
dulging in extravagant imagination. 
Invariably when immersed in cogita- 
tion we are reminded of these scenes 
and experiences. 

We think of the purity and fresh- 
ness of the early morning air, of its 
bracing and health-giving properties, 
and of the beauties of the surround- 
ing country, as we follow sinuous 
roadways, observe varied landscapes, 
and appreciate their undulating to- 
pography. We leave the highland 
and descend a precipitous roadway 
leading to that beautiful stream, the 
Sligo, so well known to those familiar 
with Montgomery county, Maryland. 
It is quite apparent beyond, and the 
pellucid waters thereof can be seen 
sparkling in the sunlight. It flows 



with great rapidity in places, and we 
observe that eddies and cascades are 
frequently formed by reason of the 
deposit of great rocks imbedded in its 
firm foundation. 

Small trees of varied species fringe 
its borders, and curve their limbs 
over its banks with evident desire to 
reach the water whose moisture fur- 
nishes their roots with life and causes 
their rich and vigorous growth. 

The eye, like the mind of man, is 
seldom satiated with indulgence. It 
becomes admiringly appreciative of 
existing beauty, yet it turns for some- 
thing more attractive ; if not observed, 
then it simply indulges in a variety 
of things equally beautiful. As we 
leave the stream, with its moss-covered 
environments, its protecting trees, 
and the numberless ferns to be found 
interwoven therewith, we are induced 
to admire the variety with which the 
distant landscape is clothed. 

Here and there are extensive slopes 
terminating in valleys or small can- 

7 



yons leading to sharp and extremely 
precipitous places, with great rugged 
rocks protruding, and the entire 
country is covered with a magnificent 
growth of oaks, chestnuts, and hick- 
ories towering with majestic propor- 
tions towards the heavens, while their 
most elevated limbs are curved and 
bowed toward the earth as man bows 
with reverence to the great Creator, 
no matter how powerful mentally or 
physically he may be. 

Here we find in nature the same 
evidences of youth and age, as well 
also many of those other dominant 
characteristics that exist in human 
nature. The same struggle for su- 
premacy and life ; the same illustra- 
tion of greatness and inferiority ; the 
same evidence of beauty and symme- 
try of form are associated with the 
rugged, uneven, and unattractive ; all 
of which can be observed in contrast by 
those who indulge in the comparison 
of nature with human nature to the 
extent of ascertaining their similarity. 



Bach tree is, as we find man, in its 
allotted sphere. Some are burdened 
or hampered by proximity to others 
more or less vigorous. All are con- 
tending for existence, and they are 
dependent upon the degree of fertility 
to be found in the soil beneath, just 
as man is dependent upon his mental 
and physical strength. They resist 
the wrath of storms and tornadoes, 
just as man resists disease and his 
innumerable misfortunes. 

Here peace and quiet prevail. From 
the turmoil and strife attending the 
thousands of human beings residing 
in the capital of this great nation, 
only a few miles distant; from their 
happiness as well as their unhappi- 
ness ; from the joys as well as the 
sorrows so often imposed upon frail 
humanity, we are removed not alone 
by distance, but by the twittering of 
birds, and the sight of playful squir- 
rels on the limbs of majestic oaks. 

By the voice of rippling waters 
and the murmur of gentle zephyrs 



through, the foliage of the forest we 
are led with happy and contented 
nature to a suitable place where we 
indulge in a refreshing repast. We 
subsequently add to our feeling of 
tranquillity as we puff the smoke of 
our cigar amid rural sentiment and 
good fellowship. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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